City Guardsman – Chapter 2

***Disclaimer*** This is not my story, it is the work of Ka Hmnd AKA Kenneth Hammond. I have not changed or edited this in any way.
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Introduction: The Killing of a merchant

The last six weeks had seemed to fly by and Sam had her monthly bleeding. From the last day she had trembled in fear every night as she came to bed. I only held her and told her to face her fear. Two weeks later she had and I had been a gentle lover. From that first moment her fear had left her and she became my lover as well as my wife.

Over the last month since then she had refused to leave my side. In the mornings she trained with Mona after she got off her shift and I practiced with various guards or soldiers. When I investigated a crime, she stood behind me or took notes. Sam had refused to return to see her mother or father until she was pregnant. This morning was to start differently.

I woke as the light entered the room and looked at the beautiful girl that was my lover and I hoped, my wife. She lay half on me as she had ever since that first night when she had become my lover. As the room brightened, her eyes opened and she smiled up at me, suddenly it changed and her face went white.

She scrambled out of bed and ran into the small bathroom to be violently sick. I followed and held her. While we were like this, someone started banging on the door. I leaned back and looked across the room and called for them to enter. Captain Able entered with Tess behind him, “We’ve had a death Charles. Jonathan and the duke both want you there.”

I nodded, but quickly leaned back to Sam as she started vomiting again. I heard Tess gasp and cross the room to squeeze into the small water closet, “Sam?”

Sam finally sat back, “I don’t know what’s wrong!”

I had an idea what was wrong and so did Tess, she gently wiped Sam’s face, “I think you’re pregnant.”

Sam’s eyes widened and she looked at me. I smiled, “I think so too.”

She came into my arms, “We did it Charles.”

I held her close, “Yes love, we did.”

Tess and I helped her clean up and I looked at Tess as we got dressed, “I’ll need to speak with your mother or father.”

I dug into my things and pulled out a fat purse. When we went downstairs George and Maria were sitting at a table drinking coffee. We stopped next to them and I held out the purse and George took it, “Tonight, we are going to celebrate. Samantha and I will announce the expectance of our child and say our vows. Sam’s parents and the court will be invited as will the Guard and Militia and any that wish to join.”

Maria jumped up and hugged Sam and George shook my hand. When we stepped outside, my four men stood up from a table they had been sitting at. Dett started off leading the way, our way wound up through the houses of the rich or noble. We stopped outside a large mansion, the duke and Sheriff were waiting with a squad of militia and captain Hurst.

I gave the duke a slight bow, but he was surprised when Sam stepped close and kissed his cheek. Jonathan smiled and looked at me, “The merchant that was killed was one of our main supplier’s for the king’s army. His name was Petre Sal Demtilos and he was found in a locked room. We need to find out if this was directed against the kingdom or if it was personal.”

I nodded and looked at Dett, Edward and Chris, giving each a nod. They didn’t say a word only walking into the house. Jonathan and the duke turned to leave and I cleared my throat, “My lord?”

The duke turned back surprised, “Yes?”

I smiled and took Sam’s hand, “We would be honored if you and your wife would join us for dinner and a celebration. We invite your court to attend as well.”

The his eyes widened and he looked at Sam, “Samantha is it true?”

Sam blushed and nodded, the duke quickly stepped close and hugged her, “Samantha I am so proud.”

Jonathan clapped me on the shoulder, “The Guard Tavern?”

I nodded, “We would like to invite the Guard and the Militia to join us as well. It will be open to everyone.”

I looked at the duke, “I will expect your examiners at noon?”

He smiled and nodded and I looked at Sam, “Sam? Did you want to go see your mother?”

She shook her head, “After your examiners confirm that I am whole and… pregnant.”

My examiner’s that was something I hadn’t thought about. I looked at the duke not really seeing him as I turned towards the door into the manor. Peter put his hand on my shoulder when I reached it, “your distracted Charles, take a minute.”

I nodded and took a deep breath and looked back to see Sam behind him smiling. I grinned, “I forgot I would need to have someone stand for me.”

She grinned and I turned to enter the manor. I found Dett, Edward and Chris standing outside a doorway. Edward looked at me, “It’s a trap.”

I looked into the room and relaxed my mind, letting things that were out of place stand out and jump to the front, “The scroll on the desk.”

“The candle on the table.”

“The dagger in the bookshelf.”

I looked around further but didn’t see the last. I looked at Chris, “Do you see the trip?”

He shook his head and each of the others did the same as I looked at them. I frowned, “The scroll can be countered with fire, the candle with water.”

I looked at Peter and turned him around and pulled his sword breaker from his belt, “The dagger I can bind.”

I looked back into the room, “Fire and water. Solid and…”

I looked at the body and smiled as it finally came to me, “solid and ethereal, the book in his hand.”

I looked at Edward, “We need Mother Alisa.”

He nodded and left and Peter nodded to the room, “That’s a sand dagger.”

I nodded, “It seems Shermerez may be involved.”

Peter snorted, “more like this is aimed at you.”

I nodded absently as Sam touched my shoulder. I looked at her and smiled, “Do me a favor and don’t even think of following me into the room. Go find one of the guards, I need a runner to go to Armsmaster Henry. I also need Captain Hurst or Able, whoever is on.”

She nodded and walked quickly down the hall. Chris snorted, “You better tie her up or she’ll follow you anyway.”

I grinned at him, “Care to do it for me?”

He grinned back as he looked at Peter, “I don’t think so. Mona has been teaching her some sneaky moves.”

Peter laughed, “Charles was the one to teach Mona.”

I looked back into the room as a guard came down the hall. I didn’t even turn as Peter told him to find Armsmaster Henry. He wrote a hasty note and folded it before giving it to him. When he was done, the guard hurried off and Dett nodded to the body, “his was a slow painful death, this was more then something aimed at you.”

I nodded, “Maybe a two prong attack?”

Dett nodded, “Yes, I think so.”

With the sound of feet coming down the hall, I looked to see Sam leading Captain Able and the large form of mother Alisa. Dett, Chris and Peter stepped out of her way but I blocked her from entering. She looked down on me, mother Alisa stood almost seven feet tall so she looked down on everyone.

I grinned at her, she was one of the few that didn’t care about who I had been and I liked her, “It’s a trap Alisa. I think, maybe for me. I can take care of three of the corners, but the last is ethereal. I think, maybe the merchant.”

She nodded and I looked at Dett and Chris, “I need a brazier and a wash basin.”

They slipped away, one to the kitchen and the other to the bedrooms. I looked at captain Able, “Prince Sherdain may be sticking his fingers in again. Can you put someone to watch him?”

He nodded and looked into the room, “Do you think it was personal or…”

I shrugged, “With Shermerez involved, it could be both. They have a mage named Horiss Haszar. If he is here, this could be his work.”

Able nodded and walked back down the hall. Dett returned from the kitchen carrying a smoking brazier with two thick mittens. I took it from him and slipped into the room skirting the trap. I made my way around to the desk and carefully I set it on the desk and slowly backed away and returned to the door. Chris handed me the basin of water and I moved to the table and set it across from the candle.

I looked at the doorway, “Sam? Stay there.”

When she finally nodded, I pulled the sword breaker and stepped around the table. I took a deep breath and stepped into the trap. Fire and water sprang into being around me. My hand was already rising with the sword breaker and it caught the dagger inches from my chest as I swept the candle into the basin.

As I turned to the desk, the fire around me died and a ghostly form started rising from the dead man. I still held the dagger with the sword breaker and grabbed the scroll and tossed it into the brazier behind it. I moved around the desk taking a deep breath now that the threat of drowning was gone.

It was a good thing they had used a person newly dead, it didn’t know it could move through objects yet. I could hear Mother Alisa murmuring and the spirit stopped moving and turned to face her. A moment later it began to fade and I put my attention on the dagger still trying to get past the sword breaker.

I knelt slowly, keeping it bound in the sword breaker, “Peter?”

I felt him enter the room coming closer as I carefully wedged the point of the dagger into the floor. I leaned it against the desk with a struggle and grabbed a glove from my belt to use on the handle. When I looked up at Peter, he nodded and brought his foot down, snapping the blade. I sat back on my heels as the blade stopped moving.

I carefully flipped the blade over and nodded when I saw the glyph. I stood and handed Peter his sword breaker, “Thanks.”

He grinned, “Better you then me.”

I nodded and knelt next to the body, I pulled the shirt up to see the glyph carved into his chest. I nodded to Peter, “It’s a Shermerez glyph.”

I stood and looked at Peter, “use a piece of cloth, gather the dagger, candle, scroll and the book”

I walked out of the room and into Sam’s embrace. I looked at mother Alisa, “Thank you.”

She nodded and entered the room, the body was her responsibility now. I looked at Dett, “I need to know how many ships from Shermerez are in port.”

From Dett, I looked to Edward, “Check the entry logs at the gates.”

Finally I looked at Chris, “The duke.”

Our eyes met and he finally nodded, knowing I wanted him to guard the duke. When Peter came out, I took the bundle of cloth and pulled a small key from my pocket, “I have a trunk at the mercenary guild. Bring it to the Guards Tavern.”

Sam was looking at me curiously and I smiled, “Time to go write out our report.”

She nodded and slipped her hand into mine as we walked out of the manor and started the trip back to the guard building. When we entered the building, several guards called out to us, some especially to Sam. She had wormed her way into their hearts and they liked seeing the way she fought back from what had happened to her.

I smiled when I saw Mona sitting at a table with Lieutenant Belet. When we sat down across from them she groaned, “Damn it Belet, I told you to write faster.”

I laughed, “Relax Mona, I have a less exhausting chore for you today.”

She grinned, “And what is that oh exacting master.”

I grinned, “I need a favor. I… ask for your confidence and your discretion.”

Mona sat back looking at Sam who was blushing, “So, it’s true. Sam is pregnant.”

I nodded and Mona grinned, “I’ll be honored.”

I pulled a sheet of parchment from the center of the table and placed it in front of Sam. She grinned as she pulled the ink pot and metal pen closer, she wrote neater then I did. Mona and Belet looked at each other and finally Mona cleared her throat, “What’s the word on the Merchant?”

I unrolled the cloth and flipped the blade of the dagger over. Mona sucked in her breath, “Bastards.”

Belet looked at her and she shook her head, “Shermerez, Belet. Again the damn prince is meddling with us.”

Belet growled and several guards moved away, it wouldn’t do to draw the attention of an upset lieutenant of the guard. Mona looked at me, “we should have let you finish at Albia.”

Sam looked up and I could see Belet paying closer attention, “Mona, I was covered in blood. The dead were stacked taller than I am and they refused to let me get close. How was I supposed to finish it?”

She grinned, “Yes, it was a beautiful sight to behold. Two thousand dead and the rest running every time you tried to get close. I thought the Captain was going to laugh himself to death.”

I shook my head and nudged Sam to get her back to writing. When she finished, I gave it to Belet, “If you can get it copied, one goes to the duke and the other to Jonathan.”

I looked at Mona, “the exam needs to be at noon.”

She grinned and nodded and I picked up the artifacts. After leaving Sam and I crossed to a table outside the inn. There were workers setting up tables everywhere, I looked up when one of the serving girls stopped beside us. She was smiling as she watched one of the workers and Sam laughed, “See something you like Teresa?”

Teresa looked down at Sam blushing and then laughed, “Yes, as a matter of fact I do.”

Sam laughed with her, “Want me to tie him to the table for you?”

I laughed when the worker, a young man stood up and looked at the girls, “You know I can hear you.”

Sam laughed and Teresa’s blush deepened, she looked down at the table, “Did you want an early lunch? Mom is putting most of the girls to work for your party.”

I smiled and nodded, “Something light, something Sam may be able to keep down.”

Teresa grinned at Sam, “Lucky you.”

Sam stuck her tongue out at her as she turned away. I smiled until I saw Dett hurrying across the square. He sat down across from us, “Ten ships. Large galleys and they haven’t even tried to unload.”

I cursed and looked at the guard building as Mona and captain Able came out and started across towards us. I looked back at Dett, “Remember those northern ‘fishermen’ in dry dock?”

He nodded and I gave him an evil grin as I pulled out my purse and counted out several gold coins, “Give them these and tell them about the celebration here tonight. See if they would do us a favor by fouling the rudders of the ships. Also, that merchant with the load of napthem? Tell him the city will buy it. I want barrels at the beginning of each dock those ships are at. If you can manage it, get one close to each ship. If they move off the ships use fire arrows on the barrels.”

I looked at captain Able and Mona as they reached the table and sat down. As Dett walked away, I quietly told them what I suspected. Teresa brought us soup, bread and a light cheese, she said her mother recommended it. When Edward slipped into the seat beside Sam, he was grim. He quietly handed me a slip of parchment and after glancing at it, I shook my head.

I looked back at him, “Get some men. Try the Blue Parrot, the Fallen Lantern and the Windor. You know what other places they may be. Take anyone you catch to the militia lock up.”

I glanced at the street coming into the square and smiled as I stood up, “Sam? There’s someone I would like you to meet.”

I grabbed the artifacts and tossed them to Mona. I took Sam’s hand and led her to the approaching couple, they had four militia guards with them. I didn’t even slow as I released Sam’s hand and embraced the woman. She was six years older then me and just laughed as I spun around holding her. I set her down and turned to a frowning Sam, “Sam, this is my sister Gabrielle.”

I looked at my sister, “What are you doing here and where is your husband?”

She stepped away from me and held her hand out to Sam, “Philp is with grandfather and I’m here because you need family to witness Samantha’s examination.”

I smiled and glanced back at the tables where Mona was sitting, “Well since I didn’t know I had family here, I did the next best thing.”

Gabrielle gave me one of her stern looks, “Don’t tell me you asked one of your mercenaries.”

I grinned at her as she unconsciously took Sam’s hand, “Well, Mona isn’t a mercenary anymore. In fact she is one of the duke’s trusted guard officers.”

Gabrielle started laughing as she turned to the young man that had come with her, “Is this the same Mona with the colorful nick name of Bloody Mona? Or the one that kept trouncing the pour duke in his own salle? Don’t you think she is a little rough to be examining your wife to be?”

I shook my head as I was evaluating the young man, “Well, since she is also the one that is teaching Sam how to defend herself and Sam was the one to do her examination before she was married, I thought it was a good idea.”

Gabrielle stopped and looked at me, “My god, someone married her?”

I frowned at her, “Gabrielle, you judge too quickly.